Chapter 2448: Touch My Heart

The Peacock Princess wanted to follow Zu An into the Eye of the Ocean, but as the envoy sent by the Fiend races to negotiate an alliance, she was not someone who didn’t know her priorities. Not only would she be unable to contribute anything, but Zu An would also be distracted trying to protect him.

Instead of being scorned for dragging him down, she would rather stay here and do her part.

That being said, she truly wanted to help him too. After much thought, she figured the best thing she could do was to give him this Peacock Plume.

The Ocean races’ experts merely smiled at that sight, thinking it was normal for lovers like them to give each other gifts. Only Zu An and the Mermaid Queen understood the weight of the gift.

Zu An gently smiled at her as he placed the Peacock Plume back into her hands. “I have artifacts too. Keep it and stay safe.”

His Treasure Sinking Coin had a similar ability as the Peacock Plume, and it was a higher-grade artifact too. He indeed didn’t need the Peacock Plume. Rather, the Peacock Princess needed it more to protect herself during this tumultuous time.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The Peacock Princess’ eyes reddened at his rejection. This was the only thing she had that might be of help to him, yet he refused her goodwill. She suddenly felt like a failure. Not only was she not as beautiful as the Mermaid Queen, but she was also not as useful as her.

The Mermaid Queen was at least able to fight alongside him, but she couldn’t do anything at all.

Zu An was stunned.

Why does she look like she’s about to burst into tears?

The Mermaid Queen rolled her eyes.

He doesn’t understand a maiden’s heart.

She dragged the Peacock Princess to the side and consoled her via telepathy, “Little sis Qingwu, he returned the artifact to you because he wants you to stay safe. Think about it. Once we head down, there will be no one to stop the Dragon Kings. They might be thankful now, but you mustn’t forget it was not long ago that they intended to side with the monsters. What if they suddenly change their minds? They might choose to trap us down there for good.”

The Peacock Princess was taken aback. “Is that truly what he means?”

The Mermaid Queen chuckled. “Of course. He can’t speak directly to you because there are too many Ocean races’ experts around.”

The Peacock Princess’ face lit up. “Rest assured! I’ll hold the fort up here. I’ll make sure they don’t mess around!”

Her mind whirred into action, and she understood she wouldn’t be able to stop the Dragon Kings alone. It happened that she was tasked with the alliance negotiation. This was a chance for her to win over those in the Ocean races who were strongly opposed to the monsters.

That way, she would have allies to fall back on if anything happened.

The Peacock Princess walked up to Zu An and said, “Have a safe journey. I’ll be waiting for you here.”

Zu An looked at the Mermaid Queen in confusion. He was curious to know how she coaxed the Peacock Princess so easily.

The Mermaid Queen blinked innocently.

Following the Peacock Princess’ lead, the other Ocean races’ experts handed their defensive artifacts to Zu An, hoping they would be useful to him in his journey. This time, Zu An accepted their gifts.

The Peacock Princess felt a tinge of sweetness.

He treats me differently from the others.

Zu An bade the Ocean races farewell before bringing the Mermaid Queen to the ditch’s edge. The brilliant formation he had seen a few days ago had become tattered, causing the ditch to be shrouded in grayish-white death energy. Only gleaming bits of the tattered formation could be spotted here and there.

Holding the Mermaid Queen’s hand, Zu An circulated the Primordial Origin Sutra to help her dispel the surrounding death energy.

“Don’t stray too far from me down there.”

“Mm.”

The Peacock Princess was so envious she could cry.

I want to go down with him too!

The Ocean races’ experts looked at Zu An in envy. Most of them had courted the Mermaid Queen for many years, but the latter made sure to draw a line with them despite her friendly demeanor. Thus, they had been curious to know what man would eventually win her heart, though the truth was that they wouldn’t have accepted the outcome as they didn’t think anyone was better than them.

The answer was finally out, but their hearts were surprisingly calm.

There was no jealousy or anger. After all they had been through, they had to concede that Zu An was out of their league, not to mention that they were all indebted to him now.

I guess only a man like that is worthy of her.

...

Meanwhile, the Mermaid Queen discreetly glanced at the hand holding hers, and a subtle smile formed on her lips. Despite being surrounded by an eerie white fog, where sinister howls could be heard now and then, she was still enjoying this moment.

This might be the sweetest memory she would ever have.

Zu An waved his hand, and the artifacts he had just received floated around the Mermaid Queen. “I don’t need these artifacts. It’ll be dangerous down there, so you should take them for self-protection.”

“Thank you.” The Mermaid Queen merrily accepted the items, thinking that she would cherish them since it was his gift. She had selectively forgotten that these artifacts were from the Ocean races’ experts.

“What did you talk to the Peacock Princess about earlier?” Zu An asked out of curiosity.

The Mermaid Queen smiled. “It’s lady’s talk. You shouldn’t probe too much.”

Zu An: “...”

He would look like a creep if he continued probing after that.

With locked hands, they dove deeper.

The Mermaid Queen sensed gazes from unknown lifeforms on them, it was just that they dared not approach due to the primordial ki’s cleansing ability. Feeling the warmth transmitted to her hand, she looked at his side profile and suddenly suggested, “I have already seen your face earlier. There are no outsiders here anyway, so why don’t you remove that mask?”

Zu An: “...”

The recollection of his earlier slip-up left him incredibly embarrassed.

“Shall I take it off for you?” the Mermaid Queen whispered sweetly into his ear.

Zu An was so immersed in his earlier embarrassment that he didn’t register what she said, but the Mermaid Queen took his silence as implicit consent and reached out to remove his mask.

Zu An: “...”

It was not her first time seeing his face, but she still lost herself for a moment there. “You are so dashing, so why do you insist on disguising yourself like that?”

It would defeat the point to put his mask back on now that it was already off. He was hesitant to answer her question though.

The Mermaid Queen chuckled. “Is it because your luck with women is so good that you’re worried you might accidentally pull on someone’s heartstrings?”

Zu An: “...”

“I’m kidding.” The Mermaid Queen kindly changed the topic out of consideration. “You must be worried that it might have rippling effects on your original spacetime.”

Zu An acknowledged it with a “Mm”. That was indeed his concern.

“Rest assured, I’ll only etch your face to my mind. It will not spread out in any forms.” The Mermaid Queen’s voice suddenly became gentle as she said, “Can you share with me the story between you and my descendant?”